PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bob Belcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bob Belcher had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Belcher
vs
Johnson

185 cm
23
170 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
165 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Sydney BEAST Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bob Belcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Johnson!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice jab there from Belcher.
Belcher fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Belcher lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Belcher throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Belcher is avoiding it.
Donk. Belcher catches Johnson right on the button with a cross.
Belcher takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Belcher throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belcher is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Belcher is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Belcher has wrist control.
Johnson won't allow Belcher to get back to his feet.

Belcher pushes Johnson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A big right from Belcher misses.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Belcher sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Belcher tries a head kick but it misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson walks into a straight right hand from Belcher.
Belcher looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A combination from Belcher does no damage.
Belcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bob Belcher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Belcher avoids a punch combination nicely.
Belcher ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Belcher throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Belcher throws a low kick but it's checked well by Johnson.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Belcher knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Belcher wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Belcher sees it coming and defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bob Belcher will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Belcher bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johnson's head.
Belcher fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Belcher misses with a few strikes there.
Belcher rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Belcher.
Belcher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Belcher slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Belcher slips under a jab from Johnson.
Johnson throws the left hand but Belcher avoids the punch easily.

Belcher pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Belcher's elbow.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Belcher controls the action.
Johnson misses with a body punch.
The referee calls for Belcher to work.
Belcher is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belcher prevents the takedown attempt.
Bob Belcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Johnson.
Johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Belcher gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Johnson misses with a punch to the body.
Belcher wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Belcher pulls his leg out and moves away.
A jab from Belcher does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Belcher manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Belcher is working away from the top position though.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Belcher.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is not content to let Belcher control the position.
Belcher is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Johnson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Johnson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Belcher sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
Johnson pushes Belcher off looking to stand but Belcher dives back in and keeps control.
Belcher will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belcher looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bob Belcher is winning the standup battle so far.
Some wild striking there from Belcher.
Belcher leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Belcher sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belcher throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Belcher dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Belcher swinging wildly here.
Belcher is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Belcher connects with a right hand. Johnson shakes it off.
Belcher steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Belcher is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Belcher throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Belcher.
Belcher throws an off balance right hand

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Check out the look on Johnson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Belcher parries the strikes from Johnson easily there. Johnson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Belcher to escape.
Johnson prevents Belcher from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Johnson looking to ground and pound but Belcher is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belcher is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Belcher takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Belcher is trying to escape the mount.
Johnson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
John Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws some wild stikes that Belcher manages to avoid easily.
Johnson cracks Belcher with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson prevents Belcher from getting the reversal.
Johnson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Belcher because Johnson loaded up on that one.
Johnson throwing strikes but Belcher recovers to half guard. A much better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Belcher blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Belcher is trying to stand up here but Johnson is controlling him well.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Belcher dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
John Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Belcher pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.
Bob Belcher is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belcher has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Belcher defending well though.
Johnson working over Belcher with some ground and pound. Belcher looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Belcher has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bob Belcher!
Bob Belcher decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.